Physical Therapist / Hawaii
2026 data Hawaii board official source

Hawaii Physical Therapist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

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Evaluates and treats movement disorders and injuries. Requires doctoral degree.

What the Hawaii data shows for Physical Therapists

To practice as a physical therapist in Hawaii, the state licensing board requires 3,789 documented education or training hours, a passing score on NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam). A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Hawaii's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)".

Upfront cost is $292, with renewal running $253 on a 2-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 30 hours of continuing education are due every 2-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: PT Licensure Compact: 30+ member states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
30/100
Physical Therapist · Hawaii

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
3,789 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$292
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$127/yr
$253 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
15.0 hrs/yr
30 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Hawaii

Education / Training Hours
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
3,789 hours
Exam Requirement
NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$292
Renewal Fee
$253
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
30 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Physical Therapist All Hawaii licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Hawaii licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Physical Therapist in Hawaii? ▼
In Hawaii, the license path calls for 3789 education/training hours, a passing score on NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam), and a $292 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Physical Therapist in Hawaii? ▼
Certification as a physical therapist in Hawaii means clearing the state's checklist: 3789 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Hawaii licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Physical Therapist license to Hawaii from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for physical therapists: PT Licensure Compact: 30+ member states. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Hawaii licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Hawaii require a background check for Physical Therapist licensing? ▼
Hawaii does require a background check before issuing a physical therapist license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Physical Therapist in Hawaii? ▼
Hawaii ties continued physical therapist licensure to 30 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $253 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this physical therapist license

Physical Therapist in Hawaii, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a physical therapist-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Hawaii's physical therapist requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Physical Therapist in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state physical therapist license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Hawaii's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Hawaii overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Hawaii licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.